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Live from the KidScreen Summit in New York City, Starlight Runner Entertainment, a New York based production company, today announced a partnership with Witchfactory Productions to create and develop the original property, ‘Adore,’ as a transmedia franchise. ‘Adore,’ is an urban fantasy story world where fairies and their enchanted friends engage in timeless adventures of magic, mystery, adversity, and heroism as they live in the shadows of the globally-dominant and technology-advanced human species. Originated by Witchfactory founders, Philip and Lauren Gable, the ‘Adore’ fictional universe is based on artistic renderings from renowned concept artist, Jasmine Becket-Griffith. Brokered by Brent Weinstein of United Talent Agency, the deal marks Starlight Runner's move into the development and production of original and independent intellectual properties.

As part of the deal, Starlight Runner principals Jeff Gomez and Mark Pensavalle, whose most recent transmedia credits include ‘Avatar,’ ‘Tron Legacy,’ and ‘Trasformers,’ will employ their proprietary development process to generate a sophisticated mythology for ‘Adore,’ that is primed for a multi-platform rollout. The partnership will leverage Becket-Griffith’s existing fanbase, which has generated over $12 million in gross revenue from merchandising lines in the U.S. and Canada. Building upon the edgy and gothic visual aesthetic of the ‘Adore’ characters, Starlight Runner and Witchfactory plan to launch the property with publishing and an animated iteration that will lay the foundation of the narrative, with a number of potential distribution partners currently under consideration. With a core audience of tweens and young adults, future installments of the dynamic modern fairytale franchise will be delivered across all platforms including television, film, online, video games, mobile, social media, merchandising, live events and graphic novels Starlight Runner and Witchfactory have started production and are currently raising financing for the project.

“I’ve always been fascinated with the juxtaposition of realistic urban settings and fantastical elements. ‘Adore’ offers an exquisite world of enchantment that will also empower kids with positive messages about today’s interconnected society,” said Jeff Gomez, CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment. “For years we have been contracted by major studios, networks and brands to create robust fictional universes that can generate multiple revenue streams; however, in 2011 we will devote additional attention to developing our own original properties that exploit our proprietary methodologies. ‘Adore’ is an excellent property and we are thrilled to develop this as part of our library.”

“When we first realized the potential for ‘Adore’ as a franchise, we looked for a partner who would be able to maximize the storytelling elements and fully understand the experiences we envisioned for our audiences. The story world is natively transmedia with such limitless potential for interwoven narratives and possible delivery platforms that at times during its inception, we could barely keep up with our own ideas,” said Gable. “Starlight Runner was an obvious choice for partner and the only name on our list capable of fully maximizing such an epic idea. After a brief discussion with Jeff over the phone in London, he offered his full support. Witchfactory relocated to Hollywood shortly after and the partnership with Starlight Runner became a reality.”

Pioneers in the field, Jeff Gomez and Mark Pensavalle will be credited as Producers on the project. Revenues generated from the franchise will be shared between Starlight Runner Entertainment and Witchfactory, and their partnership retains the complete licensing and entertainment rights for the ‘Adore’ property.

ABOUT STARLIGHT RUNNER ENTERTAINMENT
Starlight Runner Entertainment, Inc. (http://www.starlightrunner.com), founded by Jeff Gomez and Mark Pensavalle, is the world’s leading creator and producer of highly successful transmedia franchises, maximizing the value of entertainment properties and consumer brands by preparing them for extension across multiple media platforms. Starlight Runner Entertainment also produces animated and live-action feature films, as well as digital content. The company packages books, comics and graphic novels, and develops videogames and alternate reality experiences with world-renowned partners and clients. Since the company launch in 2000, Starlight Runner has been commissioned by corporate giants including Disney (Pirates of the Caribbean, Tron Legacy), Hasbro (Transformers), 20th Century Fox (Avatar) and Coca-Cola (Happiness Factory), offering guidance on how to expand and broaden storyline universes of intellectual properties that can then be marketed in concert across a variety of platforms.